Commercial and Finance Director

Location: Durham

Salary: 80,000 - 100,000 Per Annum

Are you a commercially-driven finance leader looking for a newly created executive role where you can genuinely shape the future of a growing care business? We're partnering with an established and growing Elderly Care provider to recruit a Commercial and Finance Director. This is a highly visible, newly created position where you'll work closely with the Board, lead the finance function and drive commercial performance across a portfolio of care homes as the business enters its next phase of growth.

The Opportunity

Sitting at the top of the organisation's structure and reporting into the Board, you'll take ownership of both finance and commercial performance, leading the finance function, guiding operational leadership on strategic and financial decisions, and playing a central role in the business's acquisition and growth plans. This is a hands-on, high-impact position ideal for someone who can move comfortably between the detail of financial control and the bigger picture of commercial strategy, and who isn't afraid to challenge the Board and senior leadership when it matters.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the finance function, with direct reports into you.
• Own commercial performance across the portfolio, driving occupancy growth, EBITDA improvement and robust reporting frameworks.
• Work closely with the Board and operational leadership team, providing strategic financial and commercial guidance.
• Support and lead on acquisitions, new home commissioning, and business expansion projects.
• Interpret complex financial data (including EBITDA bridges) and translate it into actionable commercial strategy.
• Influence and challenge senior stakeholders to ensure sound strategic decision-making.
• Build and maintain robust budgeting, forecasting and cash flow management processes across the group.
• Act as a key driver of business transformation as the organisation scales.

The Ideal Candidate

You'll have significant senior finance leadership experience within Social Care or a closely related healthcare/regulated residential sector, ideally with a background rooted in strong financial control (Finance Controller, Head of Finance, or equivalent) before progressing into broader commercial leadership. Crucially, you'll have direct reports into you, with genuine line management experience rather than having operated as a sole practitioner. The organisation is looking for someone with real gravitas and presence, confident negotiating with senior leadership, commercially hungry, and energised by the opportunity to help build a growing business. A chartered accountant background is helpful but not essential; what matters most is demonstrable commercial acumen within care homes.

Requirements

• Significant senior finance leadership experience within Social Care, ideally progressing from a strong Financial Controller or Head of Finance background.
• Proven experience managing and developing a finance team, with direct reports into you.
• Demonstrable commercial experience supporting the growth of social care portfolios through operational improvement, acquisitions or business expansion.
• Strong technical understanding of finance, budgeting, forecasting, cash flow management and commercial performance.
• Experience operating at Executive or Board level, confidently influencing strategic decision-making.
• Based in or around the North East, with the ability to work from Head Office and travel regularly across the home portfolio.

Package

• 80,000 - 100,000 per annum basic salary
• Significant performance-related bonus tied to profit and occupancy performance
• Equity participation opportunity
• The chance to play a leading role in shaping the future of a growing care home group

Interview Process

• Stage 1: Initial interview
• Stage 2: Final interview with senior leadership/Board

Location

The role is commutable from: Newcastle, Gateshead, South Shields, Sunderland, Consett, Durham, Seaham, Hartlepool, Stanhope, Bishop Auckland, Darlington, Stockton-on-Tees, Middlesbrough, Redcar, Richmond, Northallerton and Thirsk.

Interested?

To apply or find out more, contact Charlie Williams at Compass Associates for a confidential discussion.